Scions & Spellcraft Commander Deck Upgrade Guide

Sage's Nouliths is a two-mana Equipment that makes a 1/1 Hero token and gives +1/+0 and an untap trigger. It is not a card Y'shtola, and at mana value 2 it does not drain decks usually play.

Risky Shortcut costs {2}{B}: you draw two cards and each player loses 2 life. It is a three-mana noncreature spell, so Y'shtola drains for 2 on top of it, and the life loss counts toward her end-step draw.

Tome of Legends is a two-mana artifact that gets counters when your commander enters or attacks, then draws a card for {1} and a tap. It is slow, and played in about one Y'shtola deck in fourteen.

Frantic Search costs {2}{U} at instant speed: draw two cards, then discard two, and untap up to three lands. A three-mana spell that triggers Y'shtola and pays for itself.

Coveted Jewel costs six: you draw three cards when it enters and it taps for three mana, but whenever an opponent's creatures attack you and are not blocked, that player draws three and takes the Jewel. It is played in about one Y'shtola deck in thirteen.

Rewind costs {2}{U}{U} at instant speed: counter target spell and untap up to four lands. A four-mana noncreature spell that triggers Y'shtola, protects you, and pays for itself.

Summon: Good King Mog XII is a five-mana Saga creature that makes lifelink Moogles and copies tokens. It is played in about one Y'shtola deck in thirteen, and creature spells do not trigger Y'shtola.

Stroke of Midnight costs {2}{W} at instant speed and destroys any nonland permanent, giving its controller a 1/1 Human. Three mana, a noncreature spell, and an answer to almost anything.

Bastion of Remembrance makes a 1/1 Human Soldier and drains 1 whenever a creature you control dies. It is played in about one Y'shtola deck in eleven.

Unwind costs {2}{U} at instant speed: counter target noncreature spell and untap up to three lands. A three-mana counter that triggers Y'shtola and costs you nothing.

Hildibrand Manderville is a two-mana creature that gives tokens +1/+1 and can be cast from the graveyard as an Adventure. It does little in a deck with few tokens.

Dismember costs {1}{B/P}{B/P}: target creature gets -5/-5 until end of turn. You can pay life instead of black mana, and the life loss counts toward Y'shtola's end-step draw.

Crux of Fate is a five-mana sorcery that destroys all Dragons or all non-Dragons. It is a fine sweeper, but played in about one Y'shtola deck in eleven.

Curiosity costs {U}: enchanted creature draws you a card whenever it deals damage to an opponent. It is a one-mana Aura that is played in about 60% of Y'shtola decks, and the best cheap card advantage in the colours.

Astrologian's Planisphere makes a 1/1 Hero and puts a +1/+1 counter on it whenever you cast a noncreature spell or draw your third card each turn. It is played in about one Y'shtola deck in nine.

Geist of Saint Thalia is a 2/2 flier for {1}{U} that makes noncreature spells cost {1} less. It is a cheap body that makes every spell cheaper.

Hypnotic Sprite is a two-mana flier with an adventure counterspell for spells with mana value 3 or less, which is only so useful.

Bender's Waterskin costs {3} and taps for any color. It untaps during each other player's untap step, so it taps for mana on their turn as well as yours. It ramps you into your three- and four-mana spells.

Champions from Beyond creates X 1/1 Hero tokens, and its attack bonuses need a lot of creatures. It is played in about one Y'shtola deck in nine.

Generous Gift costs {2}{W} at instant speed: destroy target permanent, and its controller creates a 3/3 Elephant. A flexible answer that triggers Y'shtola.

Urianger Augurelt ({W}{U}) is one of the lowest-scoring cards in the precon, at 10 in the Oracle: it is in 11% of Y'shtola decks with 9% synergy. It reads: Whenever you play a land from exile or cast a spell from exile, you gain 2 life. Draw Arcanum : {T}: Look at the top card of your library. You may exile it face down.

Ophidian Eye ({2}{U}) scores 44: it is in 47% of Y'shtola decks with 41% synergy. It reads: Flash. Enchant creature. Whenever enchanted creature deals damage to an opponent, you may draw a card.

Lingering Souls ({2}{W}) is one of the lowest-scoring cards in the precon, at 11 in the Oracle: it is in 12% of Y'shtola decks with 10% synergy. It reads: Create two 1/1 white Spirit creature tokens with flying. Flashback {1}{B}.

Helm of the Ghastlord ({3}{U/B}) scores 41: it is in 45% of Y'shtola decks with 39% synergy. It reads: Enchant creature. As long as enchanted creature is blue, it gets +1/+1 and has "Whenever this creature deals damage to an opponent, draw a card.".

Ardbert, Warrior of Darkness ({1}{W}{B}) is one of the lowest-scoring cards in the precon, at 11 in the Oracle: it is in 13% of Y'shtola decks with 10% synergy. It reads: Whenever you cast a white spell, put a +1/+1 counter on each legendary creature you control. They gain vigilance until end of turn.

Kambal, Consul of Allocation ({1}{W}{B}) scores 39: it is in 45% of Y'shtola decks with 35% synergy. It reads: Whenever an opponent casts a noncreature spell, that player loses 2 life and you gain 2 life.

Into the Story ({5}{U}{U}) is one of the lowest-scoring cards in the precon, at 12 in the Oracle: it is in 13% of Y'shtola decks with 11% synergy. It reads: This spell costs {3} less to cast if an opponent has seven or more cards in their graveyard. Draw four cards.

Ghostly Prison ({2}{W}) scores 35: it is in 49% of Y'shtola decks with 25% synergy. It reads: Creatures can't attack you unless their controller pays {2} for each creature they control that's attacking you.